Nut-lock



(No Model) J. TRACY.

NUT LOCK.

No. 331,848. Patented Dec. 8,1885.

WITNESSES: W V, l: j V INVENTOR 7% 661 mg Z EW 66% M ATTORNEY NUT- LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 31950331348, dated December8, 1885,

' Application filed March 12, 1885. Serial No. 158,560.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Tenor, a resi-v dent of Freeport, in the countyof Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Nut- Locks; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to improvements in nut-locks, and is fullydescribed and explained in the following specification and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of arailroad-rail provided with the usual angle-plates and with mynut-locking device, the nut-lock being seen partly in side elevation andpartly in section, the plane of section of the rail and angle-platesbeing through the line a; 3 Fig. 2, and the View being in the directionindicated by the arrow a, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of therail, angle'plate, and nut locks. Fig. 3 is a similar view of thewasherforming part of the nut-lock. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the washerand the locking-plate attached thereto, the hinge-joint which connectsthe two parts being shown in section in order to illustrate the springS.

In these views, A is an ordinary railroadrail. B B are angle-plateslying on opposite sides of the rail and in contact therewith, and G is acommon bolt passing through the rail and anglcplatcs, and having on oneend a head, 0, the opposite end, I, being screwthreaded. The bolt.- isprovided with a nut, H, which engages the screw-threaded portion I, andbetween the nut and the vertical flange of the angle-plate B is awasher, J, having a central bolt-opening, and provided at one of itssides with an integrally-termed cylindrical barrel, F, adapted toreceive the rod or pintle of a locking device, and thus form ahingejoint between the two parts.

G is a lockingplate provided with an integrally formed rod or pintle, L,which is journaled in the barrel F, and provided, also, with a centralrecess of such form and size that the nut H cannot turn when seatedtherein. The barrel F is of such diameter as to admit a spring, S,coiled about the rod or pintle L, and having one of its ends, S, restingon the is out of the way of the nutl (No model.)

plate G, and the other end, S, resting on the washer J, the force of thespring being exerted to hold the plate and washer in close contact.

The application and operation of this device are evident. The edge ofthe washer J rests on the horizontal flange of the angle-plate B, andis. thus prevented from turning, and the plate G is prevented by itsconnection with the washer from turning in a plane parallel to the planeof the washer. When the not is to be put on or taken off, the plate G isretated about the hinge-joint F L, in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 1, until it The nut is then screwed on or off, and theplate is released and springs back into contact with the washer.

I am aware that a gravityactuated lockingplate has been hinged toasupportingwasher in a device of the same class to which my in ventionbelongs, and I do not therefore claim, broadly, the combination of sucha washer and locking-plate. The use of the spring in the hinge-jointwhich connects the washer and plate is a material advantage, in that itperinits the placing of the washer J in such a positionthat any one ofits three plain sides is in contact with the horizontal flange of theangle-plate, whereas without the spring the washer can only be placed inthe position shown in the drawings, in which the hinge-joint is at thetop. Even when the spring is used, the washer and plate will ordinarilybe placed in the position shown in the drawingsi. 6., with thehingejoint at the top-and I have shown the plate provided with feet orprojections K K, giving it greater breadth of base. This is, however,not essential, and may be dispensed with, the sides of the plate G beingmade straight, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. i, in which casetheentire nut-lock may be so placed that the hinge-joint F L is vertical,instead of horizontal.

Having now described and explained my secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a nut-lock, the combination, with a bolt and nut, of a washerencircling the bolt in contact with the inner face of the nut, and notsusceptible of rotation when in operative position, a locking-platehinged to the washer, and adapted,when lying against the washer, toprevent rotation of the nut with reference to invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to the washer, and aspring connecting the washer andlocking-plate, and tending torotate the plate aboutits hinge-joint andto hold it against the washer.

2. In a nut-lock, the combination, with a bolt and nut, of a washerencircling the bolt in contact with the inner face of the nut, and notsusceptible of rotation when in operative position, a locl ing-plateconnected with said washer by a hinge-joint, and formed with a recessadapted to receive the nut and prevent the rotation thereof withreference to the washer, and a spring connecting the washer andlockingplate, and tending to rotate the plateabout said hinge-joint andto hold it in contact with the face of the washer and in position tolock the nut.

JOHN v TRACY.

\Vitnesscs:

F. R. BARTLETT, J. A. GRAIN.

